Retirement Investing: Why Your Portfolio Still Needs to Grow

In this episode of Empty Nest Full Pockets, Matt Meline and Will Schroeder explore how your investment strategy needs to evolve as you transition from working and saving to retirement and spending. Many people assume retirement means moving everything into safer investments and getting out of the stock market altogether. But Matt explains why that approach may not provide the long-term growth needed to keep pace with inflation, rising expenses, and a potentially decades-long retirement. Instead of thinking about retirement as a switch from “risk” to “no risk,” Matt and Will discuss the importance of redefining risk and building a portfolio that balances safety, growth, flexibility, and income. They explore the role of cash and short-term bonds as a safety bucket, how sequence-of-returns risk can affect someone who experiences a market downturn early in retirement, and why having money that continues to grow can be important when you're planning for your 70s, 80s, and beyond. The conversation also looks at other risks retirees need to consider, including inflation, changing interest rates, unexpected health expenses, and the uncertainty of how long retirement may last. Rather than abandoning growth altogether, the goal is to build a retirement portfolio with enough buffers and flexibility to weather difficult markets while allowing long-term assets to continue working for you. Episode Topics Covered How Investing Changes When You Retire The Shift From Saving to Spending Why Retirement Isn't a Simple Switch From Risk to No Risk Sequence-of-Returns Risk What a Major Market Downturn Could Mean in Early Retirement Why Inflation Is a Major Retirement Risk The Role of Cash and Short-Term Bonds Building a Retirement “Safety Bucket” Why Some Long-Term Growth Is Still Important Why Retirees May Need to Stay Invested Redefining What Investment Risk Means in Retirement Building Flexibility and Guardrails Into Your Plan How Taxes and Interest Rates Affect Retirement Investments Planning for a Retirement That Could Last Decades Balancing Safety, Growth, and Income Preparing Your Portfolio for a Range of Outcomes — I sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you for being a part of our podcast journey. If you haven't already, please subscribe to stay updated with the latest episodes. Your subscription means the world to me! Want to dive deeper into the 59½ Rebellion? Check out our 59½ Rebellion playlist on YouTube for more conversations, insights, and practical guidance on making the most of the years leading up to retirement. I’d love to hear from you; here are some ways to connect: Web: https://www.prairiefirewealth.com/ Email: [email protected] Get a copy of my book: Empty Nest, Full Pockets: How to Emotionally and Financially Prepare for Your Family’s Future at https://amzn.to/3PovUWM